Sarri backs Alonso but says Emerson deserves chance

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri says he still believes Marcos Alonso has the potential to be one of the best left-backs in the world despite dropping the Spaniard for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City.

The Italian selected Emerson ahead of Alonso for the Wembley encounter and the 24-year-old impressed in both defence and offensively as the Blues forced penalties against a side who had thrashed them 6-0 just two weeks previously.

Sarri had previously said Alonso could become a world-class full-back.

He repeated that claim once again when asked at a media conference on Tuesday – but suggested the player’s dip in form meant Emerson deserved a chance.

“Of course, but it depends on the period,” Sarri said when asked if he still rated Alonso so highly.

“In this period, Emerson is doing really well, so I have to use him. It depends the mental and physical condition.

“It can happen that, in 11 months, you have one or two not at the top. It’s not a big problem. Fortunately, Emerson now is in a very good physical mental and physical condition.”

Sarri said the decision to leave Alonso out of the squad at Wembley was simply because he did not want a left-back on the bench.

Alonso has started 30 games for Chelsea this season, but Emerson was given the chance to stake his claim for a regular place in both legs of the Europa League tie against Malmo.